Trombone



(No Model.)

P. A. LELAND.

TROMBONE.

.No. 530,781. Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

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witness o m: Norms PETERS cov PHoTauTH-v \NAS UNITED STATES PATENTOrrrcn.

FRANK A. LELAND, OF XVORCESTER, MASSAOTIUSETTS.

TROMBONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,781, dated Decemberll, 1 894.

ppli ion filed May 18,1894. Serial No. 511,638- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. LELAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at orcester, in the county of Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trombones,of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved wind instrument,and the especial object of my invention is to provide a trombone with apitching valve, a supplemental pitching pass and asupplemental tuningslide for said pass which shall be located in a convenient andaccessible position, where they will be protected from accidentalderangement or injury.

To these ends, my invention consists of the parts and combinations ofparts as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of atrombone constructed according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional view of the pitching valve and supplemental pass and tuningslide which I preferably employ. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing theparts in a diiferent relative position, and Fig. 1 is a detail sectionalview taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates the mouth piece,which is connected to and leads into the induction pipe B, the inductionpipe 13 being connected to and supported by a return pipe 0, by means ofa. brace or tie-rod Ct.

D represents the slide which fits telescopically over a portion of theinduction pipe B and the return pipe 0, and is provided with a brace ortie d.

Secured to and connected with the return pipe 0, by means of the bracesor ties c, e and e is the ordinary flaring portion or bell E. The bell Eand the return pipe 0 are connected by an adjustable elbow F, fittingwithin the return pipe 0 and a section of E forming the ordinarypitching slide.

The parts thus far described may be of any ordinary or approvedconstruction, and it has been found in practice that an instrument thusconstructed cannot readily be changed from one pitch to another, becauseit the tuning slide F be pulled out too far, the comparative tapers ofthe pipes or passages will be changed, causing inaccuracy and variationsin the sounds produced. To overcome this difficulty, and to provide aconstruction which can be quickly changed from one key to another, Iprovide a pitching valve 10, which is located in the return pipe 0between the braces e and e and which controls a supplemental pitchingpass.

The forms of valve and supplemental pitching pass and tuning slide,which I preferably employ, are most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3and 4. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that the pitch valveis formed by a tapering valve plug 17 fitting into a suitable valvecasing, and having parallel passages 18 and 19. The tapering valve plug17 is provided with a valve stem 25, to which an operating handle 21 issecured by means of the screw 22. At its opposite end, the tapering plug17 is provided with a small screw 20, which fits into a slot formed inthe valve casing, and limits the motion of the valve in eitherdirection.

Fitting over the ends of the valve casing, and holding the parts inplace, I provide suitable threaded covers or caps 23 and 24, as shown.\Vhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, a clear passage isleft through the return pipe 0, and the pitching valve does not affectthe instrument. hen, however, the parts are turned to the position shownin Fig. 8, the passage 19 through the valve plug, connects with a pipe12,and the passage 18 connects with a parallel pipe 13. The pipes 12 and13 are connected by an adjustable elbow 1 1-, which forms a supplementaltuning slide, and is provided with a knob or handle 16 for moving it tothe desired position.

As shown in the drawings, the pipes 12 and 13 are connected by a smallbrace 15 in order to stiffen and strengthen the structure. By thusproviding a trombone or other wind instrument with a pitching valve andsupplemental pitching pass and tuning slide, it will be seen that I havegreatly increased the range of utility of the instrument; that the keyof the instrument can be quickly changed, and that the instrument may beaccurately tuned without destroying the comparative taper of thepassages. It will also be seen that by locating my pitching valve andsupplemental pitching pass and tuning slide between the braces e and c Ihave provided a construction in which the parts are near the mouth pieceand are easily accessible, and the valve and supplemental pitching passand tuning slide will be so situated that they will be protected fromaccidental derangement or damage.

Of course my pitching valve and supplemental pitching pass and tuningslide could be applied in the same manner and equally as well to atrombone or other wind instrument which is controlled by finger keys andpistons. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the exactconstruction which I have shown and described.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a wind instrument with apitching valve, and I do not claim such a device broadly as myinvention, but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In a trombone or similar wind instrument, the combination of a returnpipe and a flaring portion or bell, a supplemental pitching passarranged between said return pipe and bell, and a pitching valve forcontrolling the pitching pass, substantially as described.

2. In a trombone or similar wind instrument, the combination of a returnpipe and a flaring portion or bell, a supplemental pitching pass andtuning slide arranged between said return pipe and bell, and a pitchingvalve for controlling the pitching pass, substantially as described.

3. In a trombone or similar wind instrument, the combination of a returnpipe, and a flaring portion or bell, brace-rods or ties for connectingthese parts, a supplemental pitching pass located between saidbrace-rods, whereby the same will be protected from accidentalderangement or injury, and a pitching valve for controlling the pitchingpass, substantially as described.

4:. In a trombone or other similar Wind instrument, the combination ofinduction and return pipes, a valve casing located in said return pipe,a tapering valve plug located in said valve easing, a pitching passcontrolled by said valve, and a supplemental tuning slide located insaid pitching pass, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANK A. LELAND.

Witnesses:

Louis W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE.

